Acne scarring is usually the result of severe acne. This occurs when this type of acne is left untreated and becomes more likely to develop unsightly scars. This is exactly why it is best to treat acne if what you want is to avoid acne scarring.

Sometimes, however, preventing acne scars is hopeless due to the severity of the acne. In cases like this, scar removal is a reality. Scar treatment will depend greatly on the type of scarring and the extent of the scar tissue.

Finding Your Best Scar Treatment Option

The best way to treat extensive scarring is through surgery. There are three very common types of surgery. They are punch excision, punch elevation, and subcision also known as subcutaneous incision. These procedures are usually followed-up by using dermal fillers or laser resurfacing.

Punch Excision for Ice Pick Scars

Cystic acne can leave behind a scar that makes the skin appear as if it has been pierced by a pin or needle. This type of acne scar is known as an ice pick scar. It is usually deep and extends into the dermis.

Punch excision with skin grafting is the best option for ice pick scars.

A cookie cutter like instrument is used in this procedure to remove scar tissue. The remaining skin is sutured together. The result is a straight scar that is level with the surrounding skin.

Sometimes, the extent of the excised skin is too large to suture. In this case, it would be necessary to use grafted skin to close the wound. Once again, there will be a straight scar, but it will be less noticeable than the original ice pick scar.

Punch Elevation & Boxcar Scars

Boxcar scars are wider than icepick scars and are oval or round-shaped. They are caused by a loss of tissue during a particularly severe inflammatory reaction. The treatment for acne scars of this type is generally punch elevation followed by dermal fillers or laser treatment.

Punch elevation is similar to punch excision, the only difference is that the walls of the scar are left untouched. The base of the scar is brought up to skin level using fillers or sutures. The final step is the use of grafted skin to close the wound.

Subcutaneous Incision for Rolling Scars

Rolling scars are caused when fibrous bands of tissue develop between the skin layers. These bands begin pulling down on the epidermis making the skin take on a wave-like appearance. In cases such as this, the best treatment option is subcision.

This procedure requires the use of a small needle or scalpel to separate the epidermis from the deeper scar tissue. The epidermis will become more level once the blood accumulates in the space between these two layers. Dermal fillers may be required if the scar tissue is too deep.